Memory Walk exceeds fundraising goal

Over 2,200 walkers participated in the Alzheimer’s Association Southeast Florida Chapter Memory Walk in Coral Gables, raising over $130,000.

The chapter, which exceeded its goal of $100,000, is still counting funds and is accepting donations through Dec. 14.

“We doubled the amount of people and increased the money by $25,000” from 2008, said chapter public relations and communications coordinator Ellen May. “It’s a grass roots effort. The walkers and committee members worked so hard to get their families, friends and neighbors to contribute and put together teams.”

Amidst purple balloons, banners and ribbons, walkers donning “Move to End Alzheimer’s” and team t-shirts joined together at Merrick Park Nov. 14 for the bittersweet walk focused on ending the debilitating disease. “The spirit on Memory Walk day is one of excitement for the people who have been fundraising and recruiting team members, happiness as friends and family reunite and share memories and sweet as walkers remember or honor their loved ones who have passed from or are living with Alzheimer's disease,” said May.

While the association’s Miami chapter closed three years ago, the Miami-Dade walk, held in Coral Gables, was resurrected last year after a seven year hiatus. The West Palm Beach-based Southeast Florida chapter also holds walks in Hollywood, Tradition and Port St. Lucie. Nationally there are 600 walks this year, which raise money for the association work supporting research, patient care and dementia risk reduction.

Among participants, Coral Gables resident Tony Friguls, whose wife Maria has the illness, assembled a team of 469. And new this year, the Miami Dade County League of Cities held the Miami Dade County City Challenge, a competition to see which municipality could register the most residents, with the winner to be announced in January. The chapter hopes to spread the pilot municipal program next year. “It’s a great way to get local officials involved. One of the mayors put it on her Facebook page… All people who work for the city and county were made aware of the walk,” said May. “I think it’s going to be around the nation next year.”

To make a donation visit www.memorywalks.com.